How different things might’ve been for both Rangers and APOEL if Brazilian left-back Jefte joined the Gers in January.
Rangers were said to have been locked in negotiations over a winter switch for Jefte amid swirling rumours around Borna Barisic and Ridvan Yilmaz.
When both resident Rangers left-backs stayed at Ibrox, it pulled the brakes on a deal amid reports surrounding APOEL’s release clause with Fluminense and an impending transfer battle for the player’s signature.
Since then the 20-year-old Fluminense left-back has gone on to lift the Cypriot title with the cash-strapped Nicosia club whilst Rangers fumbled in the Premiership race.
Now, the race to sign the left-back is very much back on and the latest comments from APOEL Nicosia vice-president Nikos Kougialis suggest nothing is cut and dry.
APOEL say ball is in Jefte’s court
Speaking to Cypriot radio station Super Sport FM, in comments translated by Cypriot football podcast This is Mappa Kougialis is clear that APOEL want Jefte to stick around next season.
But whilst APOEL have told host club Fluminense they’re willing to pay a release clause, it appears Jefte himself is taking his time about a decision.
With noting signed or sealed as things stand, Kougialis claims that APOEL have yet to receive a response from the Brazilian’s team regarding his future.
What’s more, the APOEL chief has put the ball firmly in the left-back’s court and claims Jefte’s future is very much in Jefte’s hands.
“We have told Fluminense that we want to keep him and are willing to pay the release clause,” said Nikos Kougialis.
“It is up to the player now if he wants to stay. We have contacted him but he hasn’t responded.”
Rangers on left-back transfer hunt
The comments suggest that whilst APOEL are keen on a move for Jefte, the player is yet to make a final decision on his future.
And that is where those transfer links to Rangers come in.
January links to the left-back were indeed legitimate and back then Fabrizio Romano claimed that a summer return for the defender was in the post.
But since then the only real mention of Rangers in a Jefte context surrounds APOEL’s interest with no fresh transfer links heading into the summer.
That certainly doesn’t mean that Rangers aren’t interested and left-back is an area of the squad which will be reinforced this summer.
With Borna Barisic reportedly agreeing a pre-contract deal at Trabzonspor, Jefte is the name most prominently linked with replacing the Croatian.
